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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Archie on May 26, 2012, 08:18:00 PM

Title: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Archie on May 26, 2012, 08:18:00 PM
My father, who passed away 5 years ago, was quite a bowhunter, especially back in the 1960s and 1970s, shooting recurves.

We're going through a lot of his stuff that he had in storage... among which are a bunch of bows.  We were surprised to come across this:

   (http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc248/romangrayjr/SmallGameSpecial1.jpg)

   (http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc248/romangrayjr/DamonHunterSmallGame.jpg)

So, uhmmm... I'm not exactly a weakling when it comes to pulling bows, but I ain't Samson, either!  

I know next to nothing about Howatt bows, and wonder if anyone can tell me anything about it.  Is it common to find them in heavy weights like this?

ADDED:  Yes, my dad was pretty strong... and had a 29" draw!  And, NO, I don't know if we'll be able to get it strung...!
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Goshawkin on May 26, 2012, 08:30:00 PM
Awh,not to bad only about 109# at my draw  :eek:
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: LEWIS VADEN on May 26, 2012, 08:32:00 PM
If it was mine it would be a static recurve from riser to tips.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: rastaman on May 26, 2012, 08:34:00 PM
Howatt bows are about the fastest trad bows on the planet. Google jack Howard or post this also on the trad/history/collecting forum and get a ton of responses. I wouldn't be strong enough to even string that beast!
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Brianlocal3 on May 26, 2012, 08:36:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by LEWIS VADEN:
If it was mine it would be a static recurve from riser to tips.
Now that was hilarious !!!!!!!
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: kennym on May 26, 2012, 08:37:00 PM
Did ya shoot it?  :D  

I'm sure I couldn't!!
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Archie on May 26, 2012, 08:38:00 PM
Rastaman,
My dad was friends with Jack Howard.  I don't know how close they were, but I do know that dad was informed of Jack's death the day Jack died.  Dad was a big proponent of Jack's Gamemasters, and did a field test of one for Bow & Arrow magazine in 1968.  Is the Howatt some version of Jack's bows?  Did Jack make them?
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: rastaman on May 26, 2012, 08:42:00 PM
I don't know enough about the history to give you an accurate answer. I know Jack made some custom and stock bows and Damon Howatt made some bows that had his name on them. Maybe some of the more knowledgeable collectors will chime in or post this also on the collectors forum..awesome bow regardless!
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: kawika b on May 26, 2012, 08:46:00 PM
Paging Mr. Hamilton... paging Mr. Matthew Hamilton.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: el greco on May 26, 2012, 08:49:00 PM
Wow that is impressive..What are you going to do with the bow?
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Keefer on May 26, 2012, 08:51:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by kawika b:
Paging Mr. Hamilton... paging Mr. Matthew Hamilton.
Matt's getting older he ain't half the man he used to be ...See he only knocked out one of my front teeth   :goldtooth:
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Raging Water on May 26, 2012, 08:59:00 PM
Here I am!

Wow, a 115# Howatt! Very nice. The heaviest Howatt I had was a 90# beast. Beautiful woods and shot rockets.

This bow will take a small log and fling it!

The 60's and 70's was an interesting time in Archery. However, not my area of expertise.

So, calling Leo Markert, calling Mr. Leo Markert!

I will send Leo a pm about this post. Leo can be the Shell Answer Man.

Uh? Wanna sell?

Matt
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: wihill on May 26, 2012, 09:00:00 PM
I thought for sure this would be about a piece of .75" hard rock maple trim board.  

That Howatt Hunter is a beauty!  Could double as a club with all that glass...
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: lpcjon2 on May 26, 2012, 09:06:00 PM
Grab some 3/4" dowels and fletch them up and have at it.Or better yet maybe a piece of rebar would work.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Keefer on May 26, 2012, 09:08:00 PM
:scared:  
 Matt I didn't even know you were behind me you Karate Kid you...Man let someone know when you sneak up on them like that next time...   :eek:
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Raging Water on May 26, 2012, 09:09:00 PM
Ahhh! My Ninja walk. So, silent. So, deadly.

Matt
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Archie on May 26, 2012, 09:10:00 PM
I also found some Easton X7 .328 magnum shafts, amongst Dad's stuff.  Maybe those shafts were for this bow!
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Raging Water on May 26, 2012, 09:13:00 PM
Okay, I sent Leo the link in an email.

Let's see what Sensei Leo of Heavylongbowdo can tell us.

Matt
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Raging Water on May 26, 2012, 09:22:00 PM
Also, join us on the Dark Continent Forum.

We have a lively group of heavy bow guys there. Perhaps, you would honor us with posting your pictures there.

Matt

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=27;t=000354;p=1
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Harleywriter on May 26, 2012, 09:29:00 PM
Yes, I think you would have no trouble selling that if you don't want to hang it on your wall. Very cool piece of family memorabilia. You are a bowhunter, too, we trust?

BTW, there is an 80-pounder on the big auction site.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: sorefingers on May 26, 2012, 09:47:00 PM
Archie that is a awesome bow. Sure would like to stretch that one, If you sell it I hope you sell it to a trad ganger. That bow should be shot not hung on the wall to look at. SWEET!!
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Archie on May 26, 2012, 09:55:00 PM
Yes, all the men in the family are bowhunters.  Click on my screen name and look at my profile pic... that's us with dad.  My brother is a TradGanger as well, and just finished a trad hunt with his son in Australia a few days ago.  

Funny story from the early 70s;  My dad ran an archery shop in San Diego, "Roman Archery", and at least once had a booth at the fair.  He had a real heavy bow  (I don't know if it was a recurve -- maybe this one -- or an old compound), and had a sign that if you could draw it so many inches, you could keep it.  A bodybuilder show was going on somewhere else at the fair, and all those musclemen ended up walking by and tried, but failed, to draw it.  They thought it was rigged, and demanded that Dad produce someone that could draw it.  Dad, at 5'9" and about 170 pounds, picked it up and drew it to full draw.  End of story.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: lpcjon2 on May 26, 2012, 09:58:00 PM
Cool story Archie, but how do you get to keep the bow and your brother doesnt.   :saywhat:
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: ron w on May 26, 2012, 10:05:00 PM
Neat stuff.......that has to be a real beast to draw....I need to take some Advil just thinking about it!
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Ric O'Shay on May 26, 2012, 10:09:00 PM
Jack Howard purchased many Howatt Hunter blanks from Damon Howatt. Jack then finished the bows and sold them as his "low end" bows as opposed to his Gamemasters and Jets. Howatts were the only bows other than his that Jack would put his name on.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Raging Water on May 26, 2012, 10:17:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by sorefingers:
Archie that is a awesome bow. Sure would like to stretch that one, If you sell it I hope you sell it to a trad ganger. That bow should be shot not hung on the wall to look at. SWEET!!
LOL. I wondered how long it would take Frank to sniff out a 115# bow in the air.


 :biglaugh:  

Matt
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Archie on May 26, 2012, 10:26:00 PM
I guess I need to clarify... that bow doesn't belong to any of us boys... it's Mom's now!  And she wouldn't sell it unless she doesn't want to shoot it herself...!     :D
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: turkey522 on May 26, 2012, 10:34:00 PM
Great bow and story,thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: lpcjon2 on May 26, 2012, 10:36:00 PM
If she does shoot it then Matt will have to hit the gym really really hard!to keep up with her, and I would do whatever she said if I were you...LOL
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Mike Theis on May 26, 2012, 10:39:00 PM
That is one big recurve. Thanks for giving us a look at it.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Raging Water on May 26, 2012, 10:42:00 PM
Back to the main thrust of this thread.

Wonderful bow and story.

Sorry for the loss of your Father. Hug and Kiss your Mom.


Any 170 lbs man that can draw a 115# bow, has a permanent Man Card. My respects to him.

Matt
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Archie on May 26, 2012, 10:46:00 PM
Just talked to my brother-in-law.  He thinks that my dad told him that this is the bow that was the "if you draw it, you can keep it" story, above.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: reddogge on May 26, 2012, 11:11:00 PM
But the bow in question has nothing at all to do with Jack Howard. It's a Howatt made in Yakima, WA by Damon Howatt, '73 perhaps.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Archie on May 27, 2012, 12:25:00 AM
Richard (reddogge), do you know whether this would have been a special request at this weight, or if there may be other heavy Howatt Hunters like this one floating around here and there?
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: elkbreath on May 27, 2012, 01:28:00 AM
Amazing to see one at this weight!  Hunters are one of the best shooting bows out there, IMO.

I would absolutely love to shoot this bow!  or at least see video of someone doing it.  

After matt gets done arm wrestling your mom for it, let us know if its up for sale      :pray:
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: marlon on May 27, 2012, 04:31:00 AM
nice bow. if it was a lefty i would buy it heart beat. nice bow.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: 59Alaskan on May 27, 2012, 07:33:00 AM
Is that enough for deer?  LOL

That is one of the coolest bows I have seen.  No way I could get it back but that is just plain cool!  Would really like to see it be shot.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Bud B. on May 27, 2012, 08:20:00 AM
Sorry 'bout your Dad.


I think that photo of you, your Dad, and your brother needs to go in the Hero shot thread.

I'd never sell that bow. My Dad sold his Bear Alaskan, with nice mint green limbs if I remember correctly, while I was away in the Air Force in the 80s. I'd give just about anything just to have it back.

Congrats on the treasure find.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Tom Phillips on May 27, 2012, 08:46:00 AM
Cool story about your dad's bow.I was a Howatt/Martin dealer and I did have pair of Hunters a 90# & 100#er that they had on closeout.I was able to order Custom bows with different woods & weights.I never did ORDER and special orders over 70#'s.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Keefer on May 27, 2012, 08:55:00 AM
That will make an awesome "Chipmunk" bow!  :archer:
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Goshawkin on May 27, 2012, 09:11:00 AM
I'd make a real nice rack with an attached picture frame for it. Put that picture of you,your brother and Dad in it and hang it in your mom's house. Wouldn't be for sale at any price if it were mine.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Raging Water on May 27, 2012, 09:14:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Goshawkin:
I'd make a real nice rack with an attached picture frame for it. Put that picture of you,your brother and Dad in it and hang it in your mom's house. Wouldn't be for sale at any price if it were mine.
X 1,000,000

Matt
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Night Wing on May 27, 2012, 11:47:00 AM
That bow is a beast!    :eek:   Would take a man mountain to shoot it.    :D
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: kawika b on May 27, 2012, 11:50:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by ceme24:
Is that enough for deer?  LOL
It's probably enough for several of them... if you line them up side-to-side just right.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Archie on May 27, 2012, 04:56:00 PM
My father, whose bow this was, was Roman Gray.  If anyone out there knew him, I'd like to hear about it.  I don't know much about his earlier days in the 60s and 70s, but he was pretty serious about his archery.  This is from Bow & Arrow, in 1968.  In his later years, he was busy doing a lot of other things, but was always passionate about bowhunting, even though it ceased to be his top priority.

   (http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc248/romangrayjr/BowArrow1stpage-1.jpg)

He was working up sort of a 40-years-later field test of the Gamemaster with Jack Howard when Jack passed away.  Then, a few years later, Dad, my brother (not in my profile picture), my brother-in-law, and I were all planning on a fall caribou hunt in Alaska, when dad suddenly passed away unexpectedly in the spring of the same year.  

Dad had dug deep and bought matching Black Widow recurves for all the men in the family, as a way of passing on his archery heritage to the rest of us.  The caribou trip was to be our 'maiden voyage' with our new bows.

   (http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc248/romangrayjr/photobucket-15418-1338151787217.jpg)

So, this heavy bow is not a strange relic that was found by itself in a dusty corner; we have a strong archery heritage.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Goshawkin on May 27, 2012, 05:15:00 PM
Sorry he didn't make the trip.Sounds like he was a good man.Pretty awesome of him to get you all those Widows.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Keefer on May 27, 2012, 06:03:00 PM
Archie,
Thanks for sharing all the memories with us and if it isn't much to ask each time you dig up something like that bow and the article please let us see it as well cause it reminds us of the good old days...It just takes us all back of how much archery ment to many and there storys we will all love to hear...God Bless,
                         Keefers <><
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Ray on May 28, 2012, 07:34:00 AM
Thanks for sharing.I always wonder how in later years heavy weight bows were common.I think men may have worked harder which naturaly made them stronger.
I have my dads bow a 55#static grizzly.Fiftyfive doesn't sound like much but its more bow then I could ever handle.I was very young when my dad and his friends used to get together and shoot but its a memory that i've always kept fondly.The fun they had and I have now is something I can thank my father for.
Sorry for the loss of your dad - carry on the tradition.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: flyne on May 28, 2012, 08:01:00 AM
Wow what a find and a great poundage to boot
Jim
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: stalkin4elk on May 28, 2012, 06:06:00 PM
My father gave my son a very similiar,great shooting, DH with the same(almost) handwriting and label. From the early to mid 1970s I am sure. Have to note the slight difference that my son's is labeled 43# @ 28. Yours probably would  break his string but it is cool to see the huge range of bows DH made. This makes my 60 # Centaur want to shrivel up and hide!  :scared:
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: monsterbuck on May 28, 2012, 10:02:00 PM
That hurts my shoulder, just by reading this.   :scared:    :scared:    LOL.  God bless.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Jim Harris on May 29, 2012, 01:05:00 AM
In a gun/archery shop in Idaho a few years ago they a Howatt hanging the wall that was 167#. Don't remember the name of the place.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: marlon on May 30, 2012, 04:59:00 AM
Sorry to hear about father! Marlon
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: raghorns on May 30, 2012, 05:55:00 AM
Great memories...thanks for sharing them with us.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: double eagle on May 30, 2012, 08:24:00 AM
in addition to the 3/4" dowels for arrows, you'll need a cable instead of a string (kidding!).  That seems like one of those bows you brace with your feet and shoot a mile.  Wow! what a piece.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: droptine59 on May 30, 2012, 09:37:00 AM
Awesome.It is a special order unit from Howatt.. Jack Howard MAY have had a hand in ..but i doubt it. It certainly is 1970's/1980's fodder but I strongly suspect direct order from Howatt..here is my Howatt/Howard Hunter. Similar bow but distinct in shape..but  it is fact they did share business at times.

I could have sworn I posted this bow before. It is a 1974 Howatt (Howard) Hunter made by the late Jack Howard. From what I have heard jack made a deal with Howatt to make 200 of these bows. This is #143 from my collection. Essentially made off the Howatt form and finished by Jack using his logo/decal. My Kitteredge Bow Hut catalog has it listed as does my Howard Archery catalog. African Bubinga and East Indian Rosewood. Great shooter, smooth and speedy.


 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v719/droptine59/Bows/Howard027.jpg)
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v719/droptine59/Bows/Howard026.jpg)
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v719/droptine59/Bows/Howard025.jpg)
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v719/droptine59/Bows/Howard020.jpg)
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v719/droptine59/Bows/Howard018.jpg)
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v719/droptine59/Bows/Howard009.jpg)
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: NormanDale33 on May 30, 2012, 10:40:00 AM
Sorry to hear of your loss, thanks for sharing though. Great thread.
Title: Re: Just found a 115# recurve in the garage!
Post by: Blackhawk on May 30, 2012, 12:30:00 PM
Thanks for sharing the memories of your dad...and the bow.

As for year, I believe the '73-74 versions had the curved stripe in the riser and not the straight one as on your bow.

Now if Larry Hatfield were reading this post, we would all know for sure.

1983?